The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is often unsupported in clinical practice. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Canavese, Gabriella; Villanacci, Vincenzo; Sapino, Anna; Rocca, Rodolfo; Daperno, Marco; Suriani, Renzo; Maletta, Francesca; Cassoni, Paola; the members of the Piedmont IBD group, 1
• Is Part Of: Digestive and liver disease. Volume 47:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2014.09.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1590-8658

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Background</title> <p id="spar0005">The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease can be challenging and requires the efforts of a multidisciplinary team. We performed a retrospective analysis with the aim of evaluating the adequacy of the prerequisites for arriving at an accurate histological diagnosis.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Methods</title> <p id="spar0010">The following parameters were considered as prerequisites for a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease: clinical and endoscopic data; proper sampling and handling of biopsies; and elementary microscopic lesions. We collected 345 cases from 13 centres.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Results</title> <p id="spar0015">The date of onset and treatment were available for 13% and 16% of the cases, respectively. Endoscopy information was accessible for 77% of the cases. Endoscopic mapping was completed in 13% of the cases. In no cases were the biopsies oriented on acetate strips. The diagnosis was conclusive in 47% of the cases. Activity, epithelial disruption and crypt distortion were described in 35% of the reports with a conclusive diagnosis.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="spar0020">Our study showed that the diagnostic prerequisites were widely unfulfilled, although approximately half of the diagnoses were conclusive for inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, in our assessment of clinical practice: (1) clinicians seldom provide suitable clinical and/or endoscopic information for a histological diagnosis and (2) histopathological diagnoses of inflammatory bowel disease are often not supported by morphology.</p> </sec> </abstract>